Latest Stories

INSIDER
Propulsion

Virgin Galactic Reports on Pin Detachment From Recent Spaceflight

During a routine postflight review of its most recent space flight, “Galactic 06,” Virgin Galactic determined that an alignment pin detached from the launch pylon of...

Feature Image

INSIDER
Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Preliminary Report Shows 737 Fuselage Bolts Were Missing Before Alaska Airlines Flight

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published its preliminary report on the cause of the in-flight structural failure that occurred during...

Feature Image

Articles
Software

Deterministic and Modular Architecture for Embedded Vehicle Systems

The next generation of Army ground vehicle systems aim to provide the warfighter with advanced capabilities while ensuring cyber resiliency. One key technology, Ethernet, has enabled the modernization of military ground vehicles by providing a broad range of beneficial features. Read on to learn more.

Feature Image

Articles
Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Approximating the Material Stresses and System Requirements for Hypersonic Flight

The challenges associated with hypersonic flight are significant in that the drag forces, temperatures, and heat flux put large demands on materials. First and foremost is managing the exposure to high temperatures that will be in excess of 1,000 °C.

Feature Image

Briefs
Aerospace

Report on Human Factors Issues Likely to Affect Air-Launched Effects

Air-Launched Effects (ALEs) are a concept for operating small, inexpensive, attritable, and highly autonomous unmanned aerial systems that can be tube launched from aircraft.

Feature Image

Briefs
Aerospace

A Perspective on GVSC Crewstation Development and Addressing Future Ground Combat Vehicle Needs

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) has been developing next generation crew stations over the last several decades. In this research, the problem space that impacts design development and decisions is discussed.

Feature Image

Articles
Manned Systems

Certified Machine Learning-Based Avionics

Over the past few decades, aircraft automation has progressively increased. Advances in digital computing during the 1980s eliminated the need for onboard flight engineers. Avionics systems, exemplified by FADEC for engine control and Fly-By-Wire, handle lower-level functions, reducing human error.

Feature Image

Technical Innovation
Regulations/Standards

SAE Completes Next Step to Standardize Tesla-Developed EV Charging Connector

SAE International announced on December 19 that it has released the Technical Information Report (TIR) for the SAE J3400 standard covering development and...

Feature Image

INSIDER
Manned Systems

Marines Receive First Combat and Control Variant of Amphibious Combat Vehicle

BAE Systems delivered the first Amphibious Combat Vehicle Command and Control (ACV-C) variant under the full-rate production contract to the U.S. Marine Corps....

Feature Image

INSIDER
Aerospace

FAA Expands Boeing 737 Investigation to Manufacturing and Production Lines

The Federal Aviation Administration is expanding its investigation into what caused the recent Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 incident to Boeing's manufacturing...

Feature Image

INSIDER
Manufacturing & Prototyping

Army Launches $50 Million Advanced Manufacturing Initiative for Aviation and Weapon Systems

The U.S. Army has awarded a $50 million three-year research project to Auburn University to understand how new manufacturing materials and...

Feature Image

INSIDER
Materials

How the US Navy Uses Organic Manufacturing to Combat Supply Chain Constraints

When supply chain constraints make it challenging to source parts for aircraft maintained at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), the depot’s organic...

Feature Image

On-Demand Webinars
Manufacturing & Prototyping

Additive Manufacturing for Aerospace: Taking Your Production to New Heights

Early additive manufacturing (AM) adopters in the aerospace industry are leveraging advanced 3D printing technologies from industry leaders like HP and...

Feature Image

Application Briefs
Manufacturing & Prototyping

Autonomous Navigation Kits

Defense Innovation Unit
Washington D.C.
info@DIU.mil
www.DIU.mil

The Department of Defense (DoD) operates a vast array of military vehicles crucial for both sustainment and combat operations....

Feature Image

INSIDER
Aerospace

Peregrine Spacecraft Suffers Propellant Leak After Successful Rocket Launch

Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander suffered a failure within its propulsion system after deploying from the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket...

Feature Image

INSIDER
Manufacturing & Prototyping

Bombardier to Start Building New Army HADES Prototype Spy Plane

Bombardier Defense has received a new contract award to develop a prototype spy plane for the Army’s High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program. Under...

Feature Image

INSIDER
Mechanical & Fluid Systems

New DARPA X-Plane Will Have No Moving Control Surfaces

Aurora Flight Sciences has begun manufacturing work on a new X-plane for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel...

Feature Image

INSIDER
Materials

Boeing 737 MAX 9 Fleet Grounded Following In-Flight Loss of Cabin Door Plug

The Federal Aviation Administration has grounded 171 in-service Boeing 737 MAX 9s following an Alaska Airlines flight involving the aircraft type last week....

Feature Image

INSIDER
Defense

New Mobile Rocket-Launching System to Support Counter UAS Operations in Ukraine

The U.S. Navy will complete the delivery of a new rocket-launching counter unmanned aircraft system (CUAS) weapon system to Ukraine this month. The new...

Feature Image

INSIDER
Research Lab

Army Receives First Next Generation Precision Strike Missile

The U.S. Army has received the first delivery of its new Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) from Lockheed Martin following the completion of production qualification testing at...

Feature Image

Briefs
Materials

Composite Repair Engineering Case Studies for U.S. Army Aerostructures

As technologies develop, aircraft mature, and strides are made in advanced materials development and analysis, aircraft have increased use of advanced composites within the aerostructure. These advanced materials are now being used in highly loaded structures, including aerodynamic profiles.

Feature Image

Briefs
Materials

Modeling and Experimenting with 2D Materials for CMOS Type Devices and Digital Integrated Circuits

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides have been proposed as novel optoelectronic materials for space applications due to their relatively light weight. MoS2 has been shown to have excellent semiconducting and photonic properties. Here, we report the effect of gamma irradiation on the structural and optical properties of a monolayer of MoS2.

Feature Image

Articles
Manufacturing & Prototyping

How Distributed Metal Additive Manufacturing Can Add a Surge to Military Supplier Strategies

By embracing advanced metal additive manufacturing, ammunition and systems manufacturers can enhance their responsiveness to changing demands and better secure their supply chains against potential threats.

Feature Image

Articles
Manufacturing & Prototyping

Unlocking the Potential of 3D-Printed Polymers in Aerospace and Defense

As we look ahead, it’s evident that the aerospace and defense industries are at the forefront of leveraging the potential of additive manufacturing. They are the main reason for the advent of high-performance polymers in AM.

Feature Image

Articles
Manufacturing & Prototyping

How to Select the Right Silicone for Space Applications

Selecting the right silicone manufacturer with a proven track record of extensive experience in the application and customization of space-grade silicones is as important as considering the materials’ function, purity and process requirements when choosing a silicone for space applications.

Feature Image

INSIDER
Robotics, Automation & Control

Nuclear-Powered Drone Destined for Titan Enters Final Design Phase

NASA’s Dragonfly mission team is moving on to the next stage of development on the revolutionary, car-sized nuclear-powered drone it plans to fly over and land on the...

Feature Image

INSIDER
Defense

These Four Companies Will Build DARPA High-Speed VTOL X-Plane Prototypes

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected four companies to compete for its Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane...

Feature Image

INSIDER
Aerospace

The B-21 Raider Starts Flight Testing

The U.S. Air Force has begun flight testing Northrop Grumman's sixth generation B-21 stealth bomber. Matt Hartman, a freelance photojournalist captured the first flight of the B-21 on Nov. 10 with...

Feature Image

INSIDER
Aerospace

Hermeus Quarterhorse Joins Hypersonic High Cadence Testing Program

Prompted by recent investments and advancement from the commercial and non-traditional sector, DIU started the Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities...

Feature Image